Instantly the light within was turned up. A step
came towards the door, the bolts were drawn back and
half the door was opened.

Livingstone was prepared to see the shopkeeper confounded
when he should discover who his caller was. On
the contrary, the man was in nowise embarrassed by
his appearance. Indeed, he paid no attention whatever
to Livingstone. It was to Kitty that he addressed
himself, ignoring Livingstone’s presence utterly.

“Why, Kitty, what are you doing out at this
time of night? Aren’t you afraid Santa
Claus will come while you are away, and not bring you
anything? You know what they say he does if he
don’t find everybody asleep in bed?”

Kitty nodded, and leaning forward on her toes, dropped
her voice to a mysterious whisper:

“I know who Santa Claus is.” The
whisper ended with a little chuckle of delight at
her astuteness. “I found it out last Christmas.”

“Kitty, you didn’t! You must have
been mistaken?” said the shopkeeper with a grin
on his kindly countenance. “Who is he?”

“Mr.—­Brown, and Mr. and Mrs.—­Clark,”
said Kitty slowly and impressively, as though she
were adding up figures and the result would speak
for itself. She took in the shop with a wave of
her little hand and a sweep of her eyes.

“I’m playing Santa Claus myself, to-night,”
she said, tossing her hooded head, her eyes kindling
at the thought. The next look around was one of
business.

“This is Mr. Livingstone, papa’s employer.”
She indicated that gentleman.

“Well, not a great deal, Miss Wide-awake,”
said the shopkeeper dropping into her manner and mood.
“You see there’s lots of children around
this year as don’t keep wide-awake all night,
and Santa Claus has had to look after ’em quite
considerable. I can’t tell you how many
sleighs full of things he’s taken away from
this here very shop. He didn’t leave nothing
but them things you see and the very expensive things
in the cases. He said they were too high-priced
for him.”

He actually gave Livingstone a wink, and Livingstone
actually felt flattered by it.

The reply recalled Kitty to her business. She
turned to Mr. Livingstone.